Author: Sam McNeill
Major Program: Grains
The USDA Rural Development Office in Kentucky and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board made cost-share funds available in 2022 for energy efficiency projects on farms and small rural businesses. Both programs required an energy assessment as part of the cost-share application. UK Cooperative Extension Service engineers from the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department were asked to provide technical assistance in the form of energy assessments for potential program applicants. T
Author: Chad Lee
The Kentucky Distillery Association has a leadership group comprised of members from various distilleries across Kentucky. For their sustainability meeting, they asked me to speak about what practices are farmers are doing towards sustainability. I was able to discuss practices such no-tillage, reduced tillage, crop rotations, and the challenges farmers face each year. This was a second cohort. We are working through the Beam Institute with the distilleries and producers to help each explain sus
Several corn fields in central Kentucky were damaged by hail storms in 2023. I visited fields, and reviewed images from several farmers and county extension agents to help them determine the extent of damage and potential management options. Most of the corn recovered well. Several fields in Madison County had more extensive damage and, after visiting with him in the field, the county extension agent was comfortable walking fields and checking corn stalks for damage. He was able to determine whi
Through the James B Beam Institute, I taught 40 hours of grain crops management and grain quality to employees of James B. Beam Company. This was the second time I taught this course. The apprentices this time had less farm experience and ranged from advanced degrees in chemical engineering to the a GED. These employees were all working in the new Booker distillery. I introduced the cohort to at least four farmers from Kentucky and with help from JBBI personnel, we videoed corn growth and develo
Author: Joshua Jackson
The success of any chemical application in agriculture relies heavily on timing, making it crucial to consider factors such as weather conditions, soil moisture, and the feasibility of ground-based equipment. However, the advent of drone sprayers has revolutionized the industry by offering farmers enhanced flexibility even in challenging conditions. Moreover, recent changes in regulations have paved the way for the deployment of larger drone sprayers, generating a growing interest among fa
Author: Kelsey Mehl
Red crown rot of soybean was first found in Kentucky in 2021. As part of our efforts to see the effect this disease has on the soybean crop in Kentucky, I held a field day to show what red crown rot looks like in the field and to help see the spread of the disease in the state,. During the small field meeting, we had and agent and producers come to learn more about the disease. I was able to show in field examples and talk about how to help manage this new disease in the field. We were also able
Author: Timothy Stombaugh
With increased cost of granular inputs (fertilizer and seeds), producers are becoming more aware of the precision with which they are applying these inputs to fields. A new online calculator tool and test procedure handbook was developed to help producers test and visualize the distribution patterns of granular applicators, calculate optimum swath width, and visualize the consequences of incorrect swath patterns. Producers implementing these tools will significantly increase the use
Author: Raul Villanueva
Snails and slugs are becoming important and recurrent pests in field crops. For soybeans there was no product registered for their control. Working with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s personnel, the manufacturer, KY soybean growers, and Villanueva as the entomologist for field crops; an effective molluscicide was registered under the EPA 24(c) section for management of snails and slugs on soybeans. This is an effective molluscicide (a metaldehyde-based bait (Deadline® M-PS)),
Author: Carrie Knott
In Spring of 2023, a freeze event occurred at a susceptible wheat growth stage. During the course of visiting with ANR agents and their farmers, a 'crash course' on growth stage was provided.One farmer said he planned to apply a plant growth regulator, but it would probably be two week or more before he would. However, the wheat was at a growth stage that if he waited that long he would be off label with the application AND it would reduce final grain yield.The crash course in growth sta
Author: Teresa Rogers
The Kentucky Agriculture Training School held a full schedule of in-person workshops at UKREC and also utilized the Caldwell, Hopkins, and Fayette County Extension Offices. Despite that the UKREC ‘normal facilities’ were destroyed by the EF-4 tornado a year earlier, we have been able to return to the UKREC farm and offer beneficial workshops. KATS held 5 workshops in this reporting period with 131 participants, representing over 360,000 acres at a value of over $5,770,470.
During the last year I have been able to assist with other programs outside my MJR. In July of 2022, I filmed and edited a day long program for Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. In May of 2023, I filled in as the primary contact person on the day of Wheat Field Day and helped with the set up. In June of 2023, I also assisted in the planning and set up of the Pest Management Field Day.
In March 2023, KATS held two identical Drone Sprayer Workshops; one in Princeton and the other in Lexington, two days apart. Working with others in Lexington and at the Fayette County Extension Office, we were able to reach both the western part of the state as well as central part of KY with valuable and requested information. In total we filled our capacity and had 50 participants, with a waiting list of others who wanted to attend.
Author: Colette Laurent
January of 2023 brought with it changes to both Commercial and Private Pesticide Applicator Programs. These programs have not undergone significant changes since 1978. Therefore, understanding the changes is important for many Kentucky growers when making management decisions. The Wheat Science Group and Grain Crops Group continue to offer educational information on these changes through newsletters and in person meetings. The 2023 Winter Wheat Meeting was o
Author: John Grove
Answered a March phone call from a corn grower who was pre-purchasing nitrogen fertilizer. Also wanted to early purchase nitrogen loss inhibitors but was confused as to what product(s) to buy. We discussed his fields (topography, drainage, irrigation), soils (texture, tilth, wetness potential, organic matter), usual corn management (planting date, row spacing, hybrid maturity, seeding rate) and usual nitrogen management (rate, fertilizer sources, timing, placement). It turns out that he was inte
Author: Leann Martin
Kentucky and Tennessee are both large grain crop producing states, boasting a total of 11,916,769 acres and $3,147,933,000 in annual grain crop sales, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture from the United States Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistic Services. Seeing the importance of continued growth in both production yields and personal attributes of the grain crop producer, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agents in Logan & Todd County (KY) and Mont
Author: Brandon Sears
Madison County has seen an increase in grain crop production over the past 15 years and now has several new grain and feed bins in the area. Agriculture Development Cost Share funds through the CAIP program as well as depressed beef cattle markets and attractive grain production margins have helped farmers increase grain crop acres and on-farm storage.Unfortunately, with more grain bins in the community comes the increased risk of grain entrapment for farm workers. Madison County Farm Bureau, Ma
Author: Robert Kirby
Corn is still a traditional crops several farmers in E3 still grow to sale and be used as feed on the farm. With the cost of production per acre increasing each year higher yields are needed to compensate for the expense. Corn growers need to be educated on new technology and production strategies that are research based and shows successful results. To meet the educational need agents in E3 invited Dr. Chad Lee to come and do an area meeting and present research based findin
The UK-REC group created a 5-week webinar series in November and December of 2022 to provide stakeholders with research-based information, and also provide Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits, County Agent In-service training, and pesticide applicator training to clientele. The webinar series was organized by Jason Travis, Extension Associate, and hosted by the Southern Integrated Pest Management Center. These webinars had more than 227 total attendees. In addition to local
